Connector device for use in monitoring fetal heart rate

Abstract

A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fetal electrode product for use in monitoring fetal heart rate, said product being used in conjunction with a fetal monitor coupling device supported on the mother's body and having a housing with an opening, said product comprising: a fetal electrode, a maternal electrode and a holder made of an insulating material, said electrodes secured to said holder;   a connector dimensioned and shaped to be received in the opening in the coupling device housing and having at least two contacts separated and electrically isolated from each other, said contacts positioned to make electrical contact with complementary contact members in said coupling device;   an insulated pair of elongated flexible wires, each of said wires electrically connecting a respective one of said contacts to a respective one of said fetal and maternal electrodes;   an elongated, flexible driving member for rotating said holder, the driving member being displaceable relative to the wires in a direction away from the electrodes; and   a guide tube for receiving said driving member and wires, said driving member being rotatable within said guide tube;   wherein said connector has an outer dimension which is less than the inner diameter of the guide tube so as to allow the connector to pass through the guide tube as the guide tube is pulled in the direction away from the electrodes.   
     
     
       2. A fetal electrode product according to claim 1, wherein said connector is elongated and made of an insulating material, at least a proximal portion of said connector being cylindrical, said contacts comprising axially spaced apart electrically conductive rings on said cylindrical proximal portion of said connector, said wires extending within said connector and being electrically connected to respective ones of said conductive rings. 
     
     
       3. A fetal electrode product according to claim 2, wherein said connector includes a distal portion extending from said cylindrical proximal portion of said connector on which said conductive rings are mounted. 
     
     
       4. A fetal electrode product according to claim 3, wherein said distal portion of said connector is tapered from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter section in a direction away from said conductive rings. 
     
     
       5. A fetal electrode product according to claim 2, wherein said connector includes means cooperating with a complementary member in said coupling device for positioning said connector in a predetermined location within said coupling device. 
     
     
       6. A fetal electrode product according to claim 1, wherein said connector is elongated and made of an insulating material, said contacts comprising axially spaced apart, electrically conductive rings, said wires extending within said connector and being electrically connected to respective ones of said conductive rings within said connector. 
     
     
       7. A fetal electrode product according to claim 6, wherein said connector includes a distal portion tapered from a large diameter section to a small diameter section in a direction away from said conductive rings. 
     
     
       8. A fetal electrode product according to claim 6, wherein said connector includes means cooperating with a complementary member in said coupling device for positioning said connector in a predetermined location within said coupling device.